The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-26
PICKPOCKETS.
THIEVES WHO LIVE BY LAR.
CENY FROM THE PERSON.
They Infest the Metropolis. and
Are the Most Cowardly of All
Criminals - Large Hauls -
Schools for Pickpockets.

The pickpocket, says the New York
Commercial Adrertiser is modified foot
pad, making up in dexterity what he
lacks in courage. For the police say
that the pickpocket, hundreds of whom
infcst this city, are the most cowardly of
all criminals, and steal for the pure love
of thicvery. There arc all sorts of stories
told about the various methods in use by
these rogucs to gain possession OF other
persons property, but most are decidedly
Imaginative. New York pickpocks are
the most expert in The world, and they
never find it necessary to use any artlti-
cial appliances.
Our pickpocks are indeed thieves of a
most peculiar order. They are given all
sorts of titles by their confcderates; these
are finally fixed upon them by the police,
and in time their true names arc lost in
their aliases. Ugly and villainous faces
among male pickpockets are exceptions.
Among the female thieves, however, pre-
possessing faces are rare. No. 1449, in
the Rogues' Gallery at Police Hcadqlar-
tiers, is one of the ugliest hags possible.
Perhaps her very hideousness breeds
confidence in her honesty. Her only
rival in the gallery, and perhaps in the
ity, is Margaret Bell, No. 13O, who is
particularly noticeable because the fore
niger of her left hand is just about twice
us long as any of her other fingers.
1t is somewhat amusing to notice the
number of p:ckpockcts who resemble
either clergymcn or theological students.
Two of the most noted pickpockcts are
Of pronounced clerical appearance. One
IF them is known as big Dick" and he
mas been frequently asked to waste his
line by leading in prayer at religious
ncctings. In sharp contrast are "Prct:y
im," 800, and mickey Ryan," 1l2O.
They are dudes in appearance. They
rank among the sharpest rogucs in the
city. Lately the police have been max.
ing it rather unpleasant for them. "Old
Man Pop White" l2;5, wears long
white beard, and seems to DC harmless
old MIN. In police parlance he is
"daisy." He can steal more pocket
books and get away with them safely
than any OF his younger rivals.
Pickpockets seldom make "big hauls."
/ They prefer to rob people Of articles
which are not of great value, and con-
cerning which the victim is not likely
to take much trouble. But not long
ago nine -year-old boy succeeded in
making a record for himself which many
an older pickpocket envies. DAISY" as
the boy is known to the police, saw
Dancer, the gambler of Barclay street,
coming from his place, and, going up
up to him, quickly helped himself to ten
$1OO bills from his vest pocket. Dancer
complained to Captain Berghold and
"Daisy" was arrested, but only $3.50 was
found upon him. The thief was so young
that Dancer did not press the charge
against him and he was given his liberty.
The largest amount ever taken by a pick
pocket was secured about eight years ago
when the editor of morning newspaper
was robbed of &12, 200 in unregistered
government bonds while he was attend
ing meeting at the Academy of Music.
Pick;ockcts vino ''work" the dry
goods stores are known as ''satchcl"
openers. No. 1907 in the gallery is
known as Mollic Hoy. She was in the
habit OF entering crowded drygoods
stores, wearing heavy shawl or long
cloak under cover of which she would
open womcn's reticules or help herself to
the contents of their pockets with much
impartiality. She was finally detected
by floor walker in Macy's, and when he
informed her that her tricks were discov-
cred, she assaulted him and came near
killing him. Kate Ryan, who appears in
the next row in the gallery and is num-
bcrcd 1895, devotes herself to the mar
kets. Nos 42G, 400 and 100 are what
are known as ''strcct. car thieves" They
have a pleasant custom of entering a
crowded car and, watching a well-appear-
ing man, they find out where he keeps
mis- money and then manage to crowd
against him and knock his hat over his
eyes. While the intended victim is ad-
justing his headgear the pickpockct sue
ceeds in relieving him of his valuables.
Then there are stage pickpockets, who
are always very neatly dressed, and ex-
cursion boat thieves, who flourish in the
summer time. They assemble the neces-
sary crowd by crying: ga man over
board"
There is q prevalent belief, especially
among those who have found watchless
watch chains dangling from their waist
coats, that pickpockets use nippers to
break the chains or rings of watches. AS
a matter of fact they use nothing of the
! kind, detaching the watch from the chain
quite efrcctually by sharp tug, and
twist of the fingers. Among the smartest
of these thieves is "Billy" Perry, who
steals nothing but gold watches. A queer
pair are Funeral" Wells and his wife,
and ''Billy" Burnt and his consort some
what resemble them. The latter are num-
bercd in the gallery as Nos. 167 and l6s,
and it is their practice to divide the work
between them. The men are always in
attendance at fashionable funerals and
the women at weddings. But, perhaps,
the rogue who arouscs the greatest inter-
est in the visitor is No. 800, Thomas
Wiley, who was sent to the Kings County
penitentiary, and while there succeeded
in chopping two fingers of his right hand
while endcavoring to injure the shoe
machine so that he would not have to
work at it. When he was discharged
from prison he had the assurance to sue
the contractor for damages done to him
while working at the shoe machine. He
did not win the suit.
Notwithstanding the assurance Of the
police that there are no schools for pick
pockets in the city, there are unquestion-
ably several Fagins in town. A short
time ago there was an Egyptian who kept
! n c,n6y stand at Twontv-thirl street and